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A bundle clinks noticeably as it lands on the wooden counter of a potions stall. The vendor's eyes, previously wary, light up as they open it, revealing it to be full of golden jewelry.
For such a trade, Wemmbu is granted a shulker's worth of strength and speed, which he is sorely in need of. He'll need much more for the fights surely to come, but it's a decent start- one less supply needed.
His hand reaches up to his left ear, idly brushing against the last gold earring in his possession, considering.
Wemmbu sticks his head around the corner, a mixture of curiosity and boredom has got him wandering the halls of Zam's palace while said party plans their next steps and gathers resources from his vault.
Black eyes sweep across the interior, finding this room to be an especially well furnished and ornamented bedroom- Zam's personal quarters?
Without a second thought, he slips inside.
Instinctively he opens whatever chests his eyes alight upon, though he respectfully opts to leave their contents alone- he doesn't much care for the gaudy fabrics and silk clothes within.
Disappointed, he makes to leave before one last item catches his interest: a gilded jewelry box atop the vanity.
Purple hands carefully pry it open with sharpened fingernails, the hinges and lock clearly made of delicate craftsmanship. Inside are many fine pieces, emerald rings and diamond necklaces that would surely sell for a year's worth of potions, but Wemmbu's attention lands on something simpler.
He finds himself pulling out a pair of golden earrings, the shape of a four-pointed star dangling from a thin chain. Something about them is magnetizing; the way they spin back and forth reflecting warm light in brief shimmering snatches.
He can't help but look in the mirror, leaning in while curiously holding them up to the sides of his head.
He's never really cared for jewelry, or perhaps he's simply never had the time-
Zam strides through the doorway, turning immediately to lock eyes with Wemmbu, still hunched over in front of the mirror. He straightens, an awkward expression of guilt on his visage as he lowers the earrings and attempts to nonchalantly place them back. But it's too late for that.
“Going through my stuff, are we? I thought you didn't care for any of this ‘excess'?”
The question is accusatory, but the amused tone it carries sets Wemmbu back at ease instantly, a retort swiftly traded,
“I don't need any of your ridiculous wardrobe, that's for sure. I was just looking around! You were taking too long!”
“Mhmmm. Well from what I saw, it seems like you were trying to steal my jewelry.”
“Well, you're wrong. None of your gold is gonna help us get back at Spoke, so it's all useless. I don't know why you keep any of this.”
“I think it's important to be at your most beautiful when destroying your enemies. You would benefit from learning a little style, and accessorization is a start. Like something to match that little trinket you call a crown…”
Wemmbu levels an annoyed glare at Zam, who pretends not to see it as he reaches for the pair of earrings that had been set aside.
“Is this what caught your fancy? I never wear this pair anyway, you might as well keep them.”
“...I guess, but it’s not like I could wear them-”
A look of understanding crosses Zam's face, and a mischievous glint darkens his eyes.
“Here, hold still”
And by some inexplicable force, Wemmbu does, allowing Zam to move in and firmly grab his left ear in one hand, earring post in the other. He sticks his tongue out in concentration, which is all the warning Wemmbu gets before feeling the sharp pinch of pain as his earlobe is stabbed clean through in one swift motion.
Wemmbu yelps, instinctively reaching to strike yellow hands away. “What the heck man!”
“Haven't you ever heard of suffering for beauty?” Zam responds with a smirk, his beaming yellow face staring up smugly with squinted eyes and dimpled corners.
His signature smile drops, however,as ink-black blood oozes slowly from the puncture site. Zam quickly withdraws his hand, wiping tainted fingertips off on the cloth of Wemmbu's shoulder. It's impossible for Wemmbu to miss the disgusted grimace that flashes briefly across Zam’s face, having been staring so intently at his companion. Just as quickly, the familiar, easy grin is returned as though it never left.
“There, now you can wear earrings! -Just have to do the other side now…”
Wemmbu shifts his weight to dodge the next advance, batting away Zam's outstretched arms.
“Ah! Stop, I can do it myself!”
And he resignedly takes the other earring in hand.
. . . .
By the end of the day, Wemmbu has significantly more untactical bling to his person.
Turning his head from side to side in the mirror, he can see that Zam had somehow perfectly centered the piercing, and his other ear is definitely not, but once the set was in he had vetoed any other puncture wounds for the day. In response, Zam produced multiple ear pieces that were clip-on or slid easily into place, and Wemmbu grumbled about why hadn't they started with those.
He even walked out with a few golden tassels and chains hanging off his belt satchels and shoulders, which were entirely unnecessary and maybe a snag hazard- but despite himself he would keep glancing at the way they gleamed and swayed as he stepped.
“Just a few trifles, I would've gotten rid of them anyways,” Zam had insisted while clasping each piece into place.
“...though it does suit you quite well,” he had spoken under his breath, nearly indiscernible to Wemmbu.
Wemmbu frowns, lowering his hand to cross his arms. For the last earring, he could probably haggle for a stack of GAps… He really does like this earring, more than the rest of the pieces. Why should he have to part with it?
Because he betrayed you.
Because the memory is worthless.
Because you hate to think of how he looked at you.
He pockets the potions, using the time organizing his inventory to think.
No. This is mine now, I stole it, I claim it, I want it.
And I refuse to let him ruin it for me.
“That's all for the trade. Let's get out of here, Egg. I have another idea for how well can get more resources.”
Eggchan decides not to remark at the one golden earrings remaining. It suits him, after all.